Electromagnetically coupled electronic endoscope system

ABSTRACT

An electronic endoscope system which is configured to eliminate the necessity to mount separate airtight means on a connector section between an electronic endoscope and an external unit at a stage of washing and disinfection, and maintain electrical isolation for patients&#39; securities at the same time. The electronic endoscope system has a composition wherein an electronic endoscope which is equipped with a CCD is connected by way of a connector to a light source unit which is equipped with a light source and performs output control of at least video signals, signal transfer between the electronic endoscope and the light source unit is performed with optical elements, and electric power is supplied from the light source unit to the electronic endoscope by spatial electromagnetic means. Electric power obtained by the electromagnetic coupling means is accumulated once in a battery and the electronic endoscope is driven by the battery. In the electronic endoscope, output signals from the CCD are used as inputs for generating almost completed video signals which are to be used as monitor output video signals by a DSP.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application claims the priority of Japanese Patent Application No.8-340473 filed on Dec. 4, 1996, which is incorporated herein byreference.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electronic endoscope system, andmore specifically contents of a connector section for electronicendoscope systems which is configured to connect an electronic endoscopeas a scope to an external unit such as a light source unit and permitsomitting electrical connection.

2. Description of the Prior Art

An electronic endoscope system is an instrument which leads rays from alight source unit to an electronic endoscope used as a scope, projectsthese rays from a tip section into a body to be observed and picks up animage of an interior of the body to be observed with a CCD (chargecoupled device) or the like disposed in the tip section. In anelectronic endoscope system of this kind, an electronic endoscope isconnected to external units such as a light source unit and an imageprocessor unit by way of cables and connectors, and video signals aresupplied through this processor unit to a monitor.

Since a conventional electronic endoscope system, an endoscope used inthe medical field in particular, requires a cleaning process at whichcleaning and disinfection are carried out, a connector section whichconnects the electronic endoscope to the processor unit is configured soas to allow separate airtight means such as a waterproof cap to bedisposed on a terminal section at the stage of washing and disinfection.However, this airtight means is relatively large and heavy, therebyposing problems that it makes inconvenient handling of the electronicendoscope and that it makes a cleaning work tedious.

An optical connector section which connects the electronic endoscope tothe light source unit, in contrast, has no exposed terminal forelectrical connection and, when a waterproof structure is adopted forthe connector section, it can be washed and disinfected withoutattaching such special airtight means as that described above.Accordingly, the washing and disinfection works are facilitated if theelectronic endoscope system and the external unit can be connected in amanner similar to the optical connector section described above.

Further, it is required for the electronic endoscope system to adoptisolation means which electrically separates internal circuits in anelectronic endoscope and so on to assure patients' securities, and it isdesired to dispose this isolation means so as to be highly efficient.

Furthermore, since electronic endoscopes of various types are adopted inaccordance with locations and purposes of application, it isconventionally general to manufacture light source units and processorunits for electronic endoscopes of each type. Accordingly, an externalunit such as a light source unit which is connectable and usablecommonly to and with endoscopes of different types, if available, makesit possible to obtain an electronic endoscope having a high utilityvalue.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been achieved in view of the problemsdescribed above and has an object to provide an electromagneticallycoupled electronic endoscope system which eliminates the necessity todispose separate airtight means on a connector section between anelectronic endoscope and an external unit at a stage of a cleaning work,permits establishing electrical isolation for assuring patients'securities at the same time, and is connectable and usable commonly toand with electronic endoscopes of different types.

For accomplishing the object described above, the electronic endoscopesystem according to the present invention is characterized in that itcomprises an electronic endoscope configured as a scope equipped with animage pickup device, an external unit to which the electronic endoscopeis connected by way of a connector, and electromagnetic coupling means(a spatial transformer) which is disposed at a location of the connectorand supplies electric power from the external unit to the electronicendoscope in an electrically isolated condition.

Another electronic endoscope system according to the present inventionis characterized in that it comprises an electronic endoscope configuredas a scope equipped with an image pickup device, an external unit whichis connected to the electronic endoscope by way of a connector, equippedwith a light source and controls at least video signal outputs, opticalinterface means which performs signal transfer between the external unitand the electronic endoscope with optical elements, and electromagneticcoupling means which is disposed at a location of the connector andsupplies electric power from the external unit to the electronicendoscope in an electrically isolated condition.

In the electronic endoscope system which has the configuration describedabove, control signals related to image pickup operations and videosignals are transferred through optical interface means which iscomposed by combining light emitting elements and light receivingelements, and the electric power is supplied to the electronic endoscopethrough the spatial electromagnetic coupling means which requires noconnecting terminal. Accordingly, the electronic endoscope system makesit possible to carry out washing and disinfection without disposing aseparate waterproof cap or the similar member over a connector sectionbetween the electronic endoscope and the external unit, and obtain anelectrically isolated condition for assuring patients' securities.

When almost all signal processor circuits for generating monitor outputvideo signals are disposed on a side of the electronic endoscope in thiscase, processings which are peculiar to individual endoscopes havingdifferent characteristics of objective optical systems and CCDs thereof,can be completed in the electronic endoscope, whereby it is sufficientfor the external unit to output rays and perform simple controloperations. Accordingly, the electronic endoscope system is connectableand usable commonly to and with electronic endoscopes of differenttypes.

The electronic endoscope according to the present invention can beequipped with a battery which is charged with the electric powersupplied from the electromagnetic coupling means and drive theelectronic endoscopes with this battery.

Further, the electronic endoscope system according to the presentinvention makes it possible to dispose a connector section of a lightguide for leading rays from the light source, an optical connectorsection for video signals for the optical interface means and an opticalconnector for control signals collectively in a single connectorsection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration in anembodiment of the electronic endoscope system according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an external appearance illustrating an overall configurationof the embodiment of the electronic endoscope system according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is an external appearance illustrating structures of portions ofthe connector section shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating the connector portions shown inFIG. 3 in a condition where they are coupled;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A configuration of an embodiment of the electronic endoscope systemaccording to the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4:FIG. 1 being a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration, FIG.2 being a perspective view illustrating an overall appearance of theelectronic endoscope system, FIG. 3 being a perspective viewillustrating an external appearance of a connector section and FIG. 4being a sectional view of the connector section. In FIG. 2 first, anelectronic endoscope 10 which is equipped with a tip section 10A inwhich an image pickup device is disposed and a manipulating section 10Bis connected to a light source unit 14 adopted as an external unit byway of a connector 12 and a receptacle 13. The light source unit 14 iscomposed of a conventional light source unit which is incorporated witha processor unit and a circuit section 16 is integrated with theconnector 12 on the side of the electronic endoscope 10.

In FIG. 1, a light source 18 such as a xenon lamp, a movable iris stopmember 19 and a control circuit 20 are disposed in the light source unit14, and the control circuit 20 performs an output control of rays fromthe light source (an iris control) as well as other various kinds ofcontrols. Rays emitted from the light source 18 are led to the tipsection from the connector 12 by way of a light guide 22 disposed in theelectronic endoscope 10. In the electronic endoscope 10, a CCD 23 whichis an image pickup device is disposed in the tip section (10A), and anA/D converter 24, a DSP (digital signal processor) 25, a timing signalgenerator circuit (TSG) 26, etc. are arranged for extracting videosignals from the CCD 23 and performing image processings. The DSP 25 iscapable of generating almost completed monitor output video signalswhich can be output to a monitor after the signals are subjected torequired processings such as amplification, gamma correction and whitebalance processing as well as conversion into analog signals with asignal processor circuit (40) which is described later.

Further, there is arranged a microcomputer 27 which executes, forexample, a freeze (still image) operation and outputs signals for theiris control from luminance signals of the video signals. In addition,there are disposed a memory for temporarily storing the video signalsand other members which are not shown.

Optical interface means is disposed as signal transfer means between theelectronic endoscope 10 and the light source unit 14. Speaking moreconcretely, disposed on the side of the electronic endoscope 10 are adigital interface (DI) 29 and light emitting element 30 such as a lightemitting diode which are connected to the DSP 25 as well as acommunication interface (CI) 31, a light emitting element 32 and alight,receiving element 33 such as a phototransistor which are connectedto the microcomputer 27: these optical elements 30, 32 and 33 beingarranged in the connector 12. Though the circuit elements other than theoptical elements described above are disposed in the circuit section 16in this embodiment, these elements may be disposed in the manipulatingsection 10B without using the circuit section 16.

On the other hand, arranged on the side of the light source unit 14 area light receiving element 35 such as a phototransistor which receivesrays output from the light emitting element 30, a digital interface (DI)36, a light receiving element 37 which receives rays output from thelight emitting element 32, a light emitting element 38 which transmitsoptical signals to the light receiving element 33 and a communicationinterface (CI) 39: these optical elements 35, 37 and 38 being disposedin the receptacle 13. Digital video signals which are output from thedigital interface 36 are converted into analog signals by a signalprocessor circuit 40 and then output to a monitor or the similar unit.

Further, the electronic endoscope 10 is configured to be driven with abattery, a secondary battery 41 of several to ten-odd volts is adoptedfor driving the electronic endoscope and a power circuit (chargingcircuit) 42 is connected to the secondary battery 41.

Electromagnetic coupling means (a spatial transformer) is disposed forsupplying electric power to this power circuit 42 in a condition whereit is free from a direct electrical connection. This electromagneticcoupling means is composed of a secondary winding 43 which is disposedon the side of the electronic endoscope 10, and a primary winding 44which is disposed on the side of the light source unit 14 and kept in acondition electrically isolated from the secondary winding 43.

An AC power source 45 is connected to the primary winding 44.

A configuration of the connector section is shown in FIG. 3. On theconnector 12 which is disposed on the side of the electronic endoscope10, an input end (connector portion) 22A of the light guide 22 is formedso as to protrude therefrom, and an optical connector section 47 for thevideo signals and an optical connector section 48 for the controlsignals are disposed under the input end. These optical connectorsections 47 and 48 are attached to the connector 12 with water proofstructures which are not shown but similar to a waterproof structureadopted for attaching the input end 22A. The light emitting element 30described above is attached to the optical connector section 47 for thevideo signals, and the light emitting element 32 and the light receivingelement 33 described above are attached to the other optical connectorsection 48 for the control signals.

FIG. 4 shows a structure of the connector section in a condition wherethe connector and the receptacle are connected to each other. When theconnector 12 is connected to the receptacle 13, the input end 22A of thelight guide 22 described above is inserted to the light source unit (18)in the light source unit and the optical connector section 47 for thevideo signals which has the light emitting element 30 attached to a tipthereof is disposed so as to oppose to the light receiving element 35.Further, the secondary winding 43 on the side of the electronicendoscope 10 is disposed so as to be embedded inside an outer cylinderof the connector 12, whereby the winding 43 is set in an airtightcondition from a view point of waterproofness and the primary winding 44on the side of the light source unit 14 is also disposed inside aconnecting tube of the receptacle 13. When the connector is attached tothe receptacle, the secondary winding 43 is disposed inside the primarywinding 44 in the receptacle 13, whereby the windings areelectromagnetically coupled with each other by way of a space, therebyforming the spatial transformer.

The embodiment has the configuration described above or illustrated inFIG. 1, wherein electric power from the AC power source 45 on the sideof the light source unit 14 is supplied to the side of the electronicendoscope 10 through the electromagnetic coupling formed by way of thespace between the primary winding 44 and the secondary winding 43,thereby charging the secondary battery 41 for a time which is controlledby the power circuit 42 and while the endoscope is used. All thecircuits disposed in the electronic endoscope 10 are driven by electricpower of the secondary battery 41.

On the other hand, the control signals from the control section 20 onthe side of the light source unit 14 are supplied to the microcomputer27 in the electronic endoscope 10 by way of the communication interface39, the light emitting element 38 and the light receiving element 33which are used as optical communication means, and the communicationinterface 31. The control signals from the microcomputer 27 aretransferred to the side of the light source unit 14 also by way of thecommunication interfaces 31 and 39, the light emitting element 32 andthe light receiving element 37. For example, control signals associatedwith a start and a termination of acquisition of the video signals fromthe CCD 23 as well as control signals for controlling an amount of raysare transferred.

Speaking concretely, the DSP 25 described above generates colordifference signals and luminance signals as video signals on the basisof output signals from the CCD 23, and the microcomputer 27 describedabove outputs iris control signals corresponding to the luminancesignals from the DSP 25 to the side of the light source unit 14. Then,the iris stop 19 is driven by the control section 20 for adjusting anamount of rays output from the light source on the side of the lightsource unit, thereby controlling brightness on a screen at a constantlevel.

The DSP 25 described above generates almost completed video signals,which are transmitted by way of the digital interface 29, the lightemitting element 30, the light receiving element 35 and the digitalinterface 36, processed into analog signals by the signal processorcircuit 40 and output to the monitor.

As understood from the foregoing description, the embodiment allows allthe signal transfer lines to be connected through the optical elementsand permits connecting power lines by way of the spatial transformerbetween the electronic endoscope 10 and the light source unit 14 whichis equipped with the video signal output function and other controlfunctions, thereby making it possible to completely eliminate partswhich are electrically connected directly. When the waterproofstructures described above are adopted for the connector 12, it istherefore possible to protect the internal electric members from washingwater and the like, thereby eliminating the necessity to attach aseparate waterproof cap or the similar means at a stage of washing anddisinfection.

Further, the embodiment allows electrical isolation to be establishedbetween the electronic endoscope 10 and the light source unit 14,thereby making it possible to assure electrical security for patients atthe same time.

Furthermore, the DSP 25 described above is configured to generate thealmost completed monitor output video signals, thereby making itpossible to connect and use electronic endoscopes of different typeswhich use objective optical systems and CCDs having differentcharacteristics commonly to and with the same light source unit 14.

Though a pair of the light emitting element 30 and the light receivingelement 35 are disposed on the optical connector portion 47 for thevideo signals, and the two pairs of the light emitting elements 32, 38and the light receiving elements 33, 37 are disposed on the opticalconnector portion 48 for the control signals in the embodiment describedabove, it is possible, by transferring the control signals during ablanking period of the video signals, to dispose a pair of lightemitting element and a light receiving element on the optical connectorportion 48 for the control signals, or transfer all the signals usingonly a pair of a light emitting element and a light receiving element.

Though the embodiment described above is configured to drive theelectronic endoscope 10 with the secondary battery 41, it is possible,on the premise that the spatial transformer (43, 44) is used, to drivethe electronic endoscope 10 with a power source having the conventionalconfiguration wherein the secondary battery 41 is not used.

As understood from the foregoing description, the electronic endoscopesystem according to the present invention which is configured totransfer signals between the electronic endoscope and the external unitthrough the optical interface means and supply electric power throughthe spatial electromagnetic coupling means provides a merit toeliminates the necessity to mount a waterproof cap on a connectorsection between an electronic endoscope and an external unit at a stageof washing and disinfection, and another merit to permit establishingelectrical isolation for assuring electrical securities for patients atthe same time.

Furthermore, owing to the fact that a signal processor circuit forgenerating the almost completed video signals which are to be used asthe monitor output video signals is disposed in the electronic endoscopedescribed above, the electronic endoscope system according to thepresent invention is connectable and usable commonly to and withelectronic endoscopes of different types.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electromagnetically coupled electronicendoscope system comprising:an electronic endoscope which is configuredas a scope equipped with an image pickup device; an external unit whichis connected to said electronic endoscope by way of a connector;electromagnetic coupling means which is disposed at a location of aconnector and supplies electric power from said external unit to a sideof said electronic endoscope in an electrically isolated condition; andsaid electromagnetic coupling means having a primary winding which isdisposed in a connector receptacle on the side of the external unit anda secondary winding which is embedded inside an outer cylinder of theconnector on the side of the electronic endoscope wherein when saidexternal unit is connected to said endoscope, said windings areelectromagnetically coupled to each other.
 2. An electromagneticallycoupled electronic endoscope system comprising:an electronic endoscopewhich is configured as a scope equipped with an image pickup device; anexternal unit which is connected to said electronic endoscope by way ofa connector, equipped with a light source and performs output control ofat least video signals; optical interface means which performs signaltransfer between said external unit and said electronic endoscope withoptical elements; electromagnetic coupling means which is disposed at alocation of said connector and supplies electric power from saidexternal unit to said electronic endoscope in an electronically isolatedcondition; and said electromagnetic coupling means having a primarywinding which is disposed in a connector receptacle on the side of theexternal unit and a secondary winding which is embedded inside an outercylinder of the connector on the side of the electronic endoscopewherein when said external unit is connected to said endoscope, saidwindings are electromagnetically coupled to each other.
 3. An electronicendoscope system according to claim 2,wherein a signal processor circuitfor generating almost completed video signals as monitor output videosignals from output signals of said image pickup device is disposed inthe electronic endoscope.
 4. An electronic endoscope system according toclaim 2,wherein said electronic endoscope system comprises a batterywhich is charged with electric power supplied from said electromagneticcoupling means, and wherein said electronic endoscope is driven by saidbattery.
 5. An electronic endoscope system according to claim 2, furthercomprising:control signals for the optical interface means; a connectorsection for a light guide; an optical connector for video signals; anoptical connector section for the control signals; and wherein theconnector section of a light guide for leading rays from said lightsource, the optical connector section for video signals and the opticalconnector section for the control signals for said optical interfacemeans are disposed collectively in a same connector.
 6. An electronicendoscope system according to claim 5,wherein said connector section ofthe light guide, said optical connector section for video signals andthe control signals are disposed collectively in the same water proofconnector.